Article holder



B. yR. FLAHERTY Feb. 22, B949.

ARTICLE HOLDER Filed Oct. 6, 1945 ,gigli/4755i Patented Feb. 22, 1949 ARTICLE HOLDER Bartholomew R. Flaherty, Shelton, Conn., assignor to Industrial Metal Products Laboratory, Ansonia, Conn., a. partnership Application October 6, 1945, Serial No. 620,779

This invention relates to a holder for cups, cans and similar devices, such for example as cans for display in a grocery or other store, and has for an object to provide a simple and improved construction which will effectively hold the can, but in which the can may be easily mounted and from which it may be easily and quickly removed.

Another object is to provide such a construction which will be inconspicuous and may be easily mounted in the desired locations.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the device is not limited to the specic details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation and partial section showing the device mounted on a support and with a can in position thereon;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device;

Fig. 3 a side View;

Fig. 4 a transverse section on a somewhat enlarged scale, taken substantially on. line 4--4 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a similar section taken substantially on line -5-5 of Fig. 3.

The preferred construction shown comprises a housing or body member I which is preferably of a tubular construction and substantially rectangular in cross section. It may be drawn of seamless tubing, but is preferably formed from a flat piece of sheet metal with the side portions II bent forwardly from a rear or base wall I2, and the free edge portions of the sides II bent inwardly toward each other at I 3, forming a front wall, with the edges of these portions abutting. The lower end portions of these walls I3 are extended forwardly and curved upwardly to form a hook or bend i4 to form a lower support for the article to be supported, such, for example, as the can. I containing any suitable material to be displayed, such, for example as canned goods, paints and the like. The opposite ends of the rear wall I2 are extended beyond the sides Il to form ears or lugs IE for mounting the device on a suitable support, such as a wall or upright member II, by suitable fastening means, such, for example, as screws I8, through openings I9 in these lugs.

The upper end of the container l5 is held by a hook or bend on a variable slide 2l mounted Within the housing or body I0 at the inner side s claims. (o1. 248-309) of the front wall I 3. This slide may be a flat strip of metal of a width substantially the width of the interior of the body l) and arranged with the hook or bend 20 extending forwardly over the top edge of the front wall I3. A coil spring 22 mounted within the housing I0 tends to move this slide downwardly and hold the hook or bend 20 in engagement with the article being held. A convenient and simple way of mounting and connecting' the spring is to lance and bend forwardly a lug 23 from the rear wall I2 of the housing adjacent the lower end thereof, and to lance and bend rearwardly a similar lug 24 from the slide 2i, and then to hook the opposite ends 25 of the spring over these lugs, the length of the spring being such as to be tensioned when in this position. This permits the slide 2| to be shifted upwardly various amounts to hold articles of different lengths, and the spring also tends to shift the slide downwardly and hold the hook or bend 2li tightly in engagement with the article. Thus, for example, in the case of the can I5 shown, which usually has a peripheral ange 26 at either end, the lower flange is seated in the hook or bend I4 while the hook or bend 2U is engaged over the upper flange, securely holding the device -in position.. 'I'he can may be easily and quickly inserted in position by placing its upper flange 26 under the upper hook or bend 20, then lifting it upwardly, carrying with it the slide 2l,

until its lower flange 26 can be seated in theA lower hook or bend I4. It is as easily removed by simply reversing this operation, which merely comprises lifting the can upwardly to remove the lower flange from the lower hook I4 and then moving it forward and withdrawing the upper flange from the hook 20.

It will be understood this device is adapted for holding Various articles, such as cups, cans and so forth, and that the shape and size of the hooks or bends I4 and 2i] may be changed for holding different objects. Also, the adjustable slide 2| will accommodate articles of different lengths, and of course the lengths of the body I0 and the slide 2| can be made to correspond with the lengths of the articles it is planned to support in the device.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

1. A holder of the character described comprising a at strip of sheet metal including spaced side portions bent forwardly and then toward each other to form a tubular body adapted to be mounted in an upright position on a support, the lower edge of the front wall being provided with an outwardly and upwardly curved bend to form a seat for the lower edge of an article, a slide mounted in the body provided at its upper end with an outwardly and downwardly curved bend to engage over the upper edge of the article seated in the lower bend, and a coiled spring in the body connected to the body and the slide and teding gtoc'shift the slilezdownwardly 1,110 retain itsibend over=theupper -edgeof-the article.

2. A holder of the character described comprising a tubular body of substantially rectangular cross section, the rear wall of said body-being extended to provide supporting means forV fastening the holder to a support, ai-lowerrportion. of

the front wall being bent :outwardlyffl-arid llp-v 1715 wardly to form a seat for the lower edge-of an article to be supported, afsl-idelimountedewithin 'the tubular body comprising a substantially flat strip guided between the side walls of t-thebody at the inner side of thefront wall and bent out- 20 l:iwardly and .downwardly at.fits Ll1l 10er,f,end Aoutside thai-front wall,oflfthezbodyeto .term-.sai `sixinilanseat .rtozengageroverzthezupper:edge of theanticle, and

amcoiled sprinegenclosed vwithin thea tubular body connected eat its ,upper and lower ends-to :the 25 Number lidezandgbody.respectively and tending to ,force theslide, downwardly to cla-mp therartielefbetween zitheitwdseats.

i .-Aiholderzofgthelcharactergdescribedcompris- :fmg naz-ssrubstantially ;'recifangular :tubular `body ,30

10 edge of the front wall of the body to seat over 'fthe top edge of an article seated in the lower hond, said body and slide being provided with spaced laterally extending lugs, and a coiled @spring enclosedjmthe body :connected at its opposite-1ends1to-saidlugs and tending to shift theV slide downwardlyeto hold the upper bend against .thedgeof ,the article.

BARTHOLOMEW R. FLAHERTY.

REFERENCES CITED .-lfldefollowing .references :Aare of recordnintthe filet-of ',this :patent:

"UNITED 'STATES 'PATENTS 

